Former IU star Yogi Ferrell makes fashion statement

Former Indiana University and Park Tudor standout Yogi Ferrell has expanded his game beyond the court. Ferrell has joined up with a fellow IU alum Jace Lipstein on the 'Grungy Gentleman' clothing line.
Courtesy of Grungy Gentleman

BLOOMINGTON – Social media wondered curiously what Yogi Ferrell was doing when he turned up in Bloomington during Little 500 weekend last spring, conducting photoshoots at various spots around town.

It was part of Ferrell’s growing profile as an NBA player, and a professional partnership now spearheaded by two IU alumni.

Those photoshoots were among the first steps in Ferrell becoming an ambassador athlete for Grungy Gentleman, a clothing line designed by another alumnus, Jace Lipstein. In particular, Ferrell modeled Lipstein’s new “For IU, by IU” line, which will debut at T.I.S. College Bookstore near campus Tuesday.

“Immediately, when I heard that, I knew we were just going to click,” Ferrell said of the IU connection. “I’m still going to be loyal to the Hoosiers, no matter what. Like I said, once I heard that, a guy from Indiana opened up his own clothing line and is now trying to get more into the sports/NBA realm, I hopped right on board.”

Now in his second NBA season, Ferrell has settled into the Dallas Mavericks’ regular rotation. He’s currently averaging 28.5 minutes, 9.8 points and 2.3 assists per game.

But it was his Indiana tie-in — as much as his pro career — that hooked him up with Lipstein and Grungy Gentleman.

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Lipstein said the two connected through J.T. Forbes, head of the IU Alumni Association. The relationship between Lipstein, who founded Grungy Gentleman, and his new brand ambassador took off from there.

“When we got to meet each other, quickly became friends," Lipstein said. "The passion definitely was able to transfer to the work. Everyone got excited and poured our all into it.”

Lipstein, who graduated in 2007, said his clothes are designed to be “transitional and versatile.” The IU line takes that approach to pieces branded by his alma mater.

“These days, when I went back to school, I noticed an astounding number of students were wearing bar T-shirts all around school,” Lipstein told IndyStar. “As fun as they are at night, I want to restore the cool thing to be worn at night as the IU logo, the interlock logo.”

Indiana isn’t his only venture.

Based in New York, Lipstein has worked with the Knicks and Rangers on products available exclusively at Madison Square Garden. He also has a joint project with the National Basketball Players Association developing soon.

But the IU line is, for Lipstein, personally important. Working with Ferrell just added more juice.

“You want them to be somebody who is a go-getter, somebody who is savvy, somebody who truly cares about the business,” Lipstein said. “Yogi has all those characteristics and more.”

The IU line will launch with a T-shirt and two long-sleeved shirts, Lipstein said, and roll out new products every couple of months. It will also be available through the alumni association and Andrew Davis, a clothing store on Bloomington’s downtown square, but T.I.S. will essentially be home base.

Ferrell sees this week’s launch is just the start.

“Jace, he’s got a vision for what his company wants to be, and what his company represents. He felt like I could be a part of it. I know I’m gonna try and just do everything he wants, and he’s going to look out for me as well,” Ferrell said. “I know basketball for me one day is going to stop. I feel like the earlier I can to jump on these different business opportunities, the better.”